January’s best-selling cars have Chinese surprise, Strada leadership and VW trio

Sector registers 1.3% increase in the annual comparison; Fiat Strada leads, but VW registers T-Cross, Polo and Tera among the best sellers

Fiat Strada sells more than 10 thousand units in the first month of 2026 (Photo: Fiat | Disclosure)
By Tom Schuenk
Published on 2026-02-04 at 01:00 PM
Updated on 2026-02-04 at 01:21 PM

The Brazilian automotive market opened 2026 with a positive sign in the annual comparison, totaling 162,342 registrations in January. The volume represents an increase of 1.3% compared to the same period last year. However, the sector felt the traditional “hangover” at the beginning of the year: compared to the heated month of December, there was a sharp retraction of 39.1%.

According to the consultancy K.Lume, the monthly slowdown is seasonal and expected. Families’ budgets are usually drained by typical obligations of the period, such as the payment of IPVA and school expenses, which curbs the purchase of high value-added goods.

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In the model ranking, the Fiat Strada reaffirmed its hegemony, being the only vehicle to surpass the barrier of 10 thousand units. However, the strategic highlight goes to Volkswagen. The German automaker achieved an expressive feat by positioning three models in the “top 5”: the T-Cross (leader among SUVs), the Polo and the recently launched Tera, consolidating its strength in different segments.

Rank Models Units sold
1 Fiat Strada 10,541
2 Volkswagen T-Cross 5,741
3 Volkswagen Polo 5,699
4 Fiat Argo 5,177
5 Volkswagen Tera 4,992
6 Chevrolet Onix 4,948
7 Chevrolet Tracker 4,532
8 Jeep Compass 4,503
9 Hyundai Crete 4,429
10 Toyota Hilux 4,137
11 Fiat Toro 4,094
12 Hyundai HB20 4,065
13 Fiat Fastback 3,927
14 BYD Song 3,802
15 Fiat Mobi 3,530
16 Fiat Pulse 3,193
17 Volkswagen Nivus 3,167
18 Nissan Kicks 3,058
19 Jeep Renegade 3,052
20 Volkswagen Saveiro 2,863
21 BYD Dolphin Mini 2,840
22 Honda HR-V 2,773
23 Renault Kwid 2,611
24 GWM Haval H6 2,389
25 Ford Ranger 2,345
26 Toyota Corolla Cross 2,176
27 Ram Rampage 2,144
28 Caoa Chery Tigo 7 1,937
29 Chevrolet Onix Plus 1,869
30 Chevrolet S10 1,854
31 Honda WR-V 1,812
32 Volkswagen Virtus 1,644
33 Hyundai HB20S 1,580
34 BYD Dolphin 1,511
35 Toyota Corolla 1,399
36 Fiat Cronos 1,360
37 Fiat Fiorino 1,359
38 Jeep Commander 1,330
39 Caoa Chery Tiggo 8 1,271
40 Chevrolet Spin 1,235
41 Toyota SW4 1,233
42 Volkswagen Taos 1,225
43 Renault Kardian 1,210
44 Geely EX2 1,124
45 Omoda 5 1,106
46 Honda City Hatch 1,071
47 Renault Oroch 1,065
48 Citroën Basalt 1,027
49 Citroën C3 1,027
50 Honda City Sedan 987

Chinese offensive and new entrants

The electrified segment continues to be the scene of fierce disputes. Among hybrids, the BYD Song Plus maintained the lead (14th overall), closely followed by rival GWM Haval H6. Among the purely electric vehicles, the compact BYD Dolphin Mini sustains the consumer’s preference, in 21st position.

The novelty, however, was on account of Geely. The brand debuted the EX2 model, which, in its first full month of sales, has already pierced the bubble of the 50 best sellers. The move indicates that brand diversification and the arrival of new technologies remain the vital driver for maintaining sales volumes in 2026.

Geely EX2
The Geely EX2 already stands out among the best-selling cars as early as January 2026
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